Testosterone and HDL

[Larry B]

I have been on Testosterone, HCG and Anastrozole since I was 48. I will be 60 in two months. Can testosterone replacement therapy continue into the later years in life? I monitor all my important bloodwork every six months and everything is ok except my HDL cholesterol. I feel much better being on testosterone than not. My concern is that I read testosterone can lower HDL and all cause morbidity increases with HDL under 50, mine is 39.

I've read what foods, supplements, behaviors increase HDL and I'm already doing all of those except red wine. Does anyone have any advise for me to increase my HDL?

 

[ivankonst2017]

Correctly administered TRT should not lower HDL.

HDL can be lowered mainly by bad lifestyle, bad diet and using PEDs especially orals. AIs can lower HDL as well.

 

[Larry B]

Correctly administered TRT should not lower HDL.

HDL can be lowered mainly by bad lifestyle, bad diet and using PEDs especially orals. AIs can lower HDL as well.

Thanks for your reply. I administer as instructed by my doctor Monday and Thursday .31 cc by intramuscular injection. I'm a pescatarian with my diet primarily plant based except wild salmon a couple times a week. I work out five days a week. I don't use any performance enhancing drugs. I'm not sure what "AI" is.

 

[ivankonst2017]

Thanks for your reply. I administer as instructed by my doctor Monday and Thursday .31 cc by intramuscular injection. I'm a pescatarian with my diet primarily plant based except wild salmon a couple times a week. I work out five days a week. I don't use any performance enhancing drugs. I'm not sure what "AI" is.

AI is aromatase inhibitor, like anastrozole, aromasin etc - medications often prescribed with TRT

 

[Vince]

I believe testosterone does lower HDL cholesterol. I would think, that's why women usually have higher HDL than men.

 

[Larry B]

AI is aromatase inhibitor, like anastrozole, aromasin etc - medications often prescribed with TRT

Gotcha. I take .5mg of Anastrozole once a week.

 

[Larry B]

I believe testosterone does lower HDL cholesterol. I would think, that's why women usually have higher HDL than men.

Which could be one reason women have a higher life expectancy than men.

 

[Vince]

An update on testosterone, HDL and cardiovascular risk in men - PMC

Testosterone prescriptions have risen steadily and sharply in the USA despite a lack of clear understanding of the relationship between androgens and cardiovascular disease. In men with increasing age, testosterone levels decline and cardiovascular ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Vince]

An update on testosterone, HDL and cardiovascular risk in men - PMC

Testosterone prescriptions have risen steadily and sharply in the USA despite a lack of clear understanding of the relationship between androgens and cardiovascular disease. In men with increasing age, testosterone levels decline and cardiovascular ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Looks like I'm wrong?

 

[Larry B]

To my original question, any suggestions out there to raise HDL outside of what I'm already doing? Do others out there on TRT also have low HDL?

 

[ivankonst2017]

I believe testosterone does lower HDL cholesterol. I would think, that's why women usually have higher HDL than men.

Since I started TRT and doubled my testosterone and estradiol to what was before my HDL improved provided I screwed up my diet at that time

 

[Golfboy307]

How to Increase HDL - Peak Testosterone

So why would you want to increase your HDL? Of course, it is well-known that increasing HDL protects the heart and cardiovascular...

www.peaktestosterone.com

 

[Larry B]

How to Increase HDL - Peak Testosterone

So why would you want to increase your HDL? Of course, it is well-known that increasing HDL protects the heart and cardiovascular...

www.peaktestosterone.com

Excellent! Thank you.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I would stop anastrozole. You will see your HDL go up in a few weeks. Also, be careful with growing old with low estradiol since this can lower bone density.

 

[madman]

I have been on Testosterone, HCG and Anastrozole since I was 48. I will be 60 in two months. Can testosterone replacement therapy continue into the later years in life? I monitor all my important bloodwork every six months and everything is ok except my HDL cholesterol. I feel much better being on testosterone than not. My concern is that I read testosterone can lower HDL and all cause morbidity increases with HDL under 50, mine is 39.

I've read what foods, supplements, behaviors increase HDL and I'm already doing all of those except red wine. Does anyone have any advise for me to increase my HDL?

As long as blood markers remain healthy and you feel well overall the benefits of having healthy testosterone let alone estradiol levels will far outweigh having low/sub-par T levels.

Quality of life.

Testosterone can have an impact on lowering HDL, especially when using high doses.

I would be much more concerned with maintaining healthy estradiol levels which will have a positive impact on lipids.

Driving down estradiol too low with the use of an AI can hammer down HDL let alone have a negative effect on libido, erectile function, muscle, immune system, brain, bone, and cardiovascular health.

Everyone gets so caught up in wanting to achieve healthy let alone high T levels yet overlooks the significant role estradiol plays on men's overall health!

 

[Larry B]

I would stop anastrozole. You will see your HDL go up in a few weeks. Also, be careful with growing old with low estradiol since this can lower bone density.

Thanks for that great info! I take .5 mg once a week now and I'm at the high end of normal for estradiol at 32.2 pg/mL. I know you are correct about low estradiol lowering bone density but I'm worried if I stop anastrozole and my estradiol increases out of the normal range I run the risk of ED, depression, and increased fat.

 

[Larry B]

As long as blood markers remain healthy and you feel well overall the benefits of having healthy testosterone let alone estradiol levels will far outweigh having low/sub-par T levels.

Quality of life.

Testosterone can have an impact on lowering HDL, especially when using high doses.

I would be much more concerned with maintaining healthy estradiol levels which will have a positive impact on lipids.

Driving down estradiol too low with the use of an AI can hammer down HDL let alone have a negative effect on libido, erectile function, muscle, immune system, brain, bone, and cardiovascular health.

Everyone gets so caught up in wanting to achieve healthy let alone high T levels yet overlooks the significant role estradiol plays on men's overall health!

My last bloodwork shows a testosterone level of 845 ng/dL injecting .31 cc Monday and Thursday. My estradiol was 32.2 pg/mL with .5 mg of anastrozole once a week. I inject .5 ml of HCG twice a week so my balls don't shrink. My current lipid panel is Total cholesterol 143, Triglycerides 62, HDL 39, VLDL 13 LDL 91. My Lipoprotein (a) is 102.5. That is always elevated but it is genetic an as far as I know nothing can be done to lower that.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

In case that you have not read these

Why does testosterone therapy decrease HDL cholesterol in some men?

This HDL lowering effect is seen at higher testosterone doses. Relationship of plasma HDL-Cholesterol to testosterone, estradiol, and sex-hormone-binding globulin levels in men and women James Semmens et al. Metabolism Volume 32, Issue 5, May 1983, Pages 428–432 Abstract The significance...

www.excelmale.com

Testosterone (or Anastrozole?) Decreased my HDL: What Can I Do?

Everything so far has been going great since getting my dose dialed in for TRT. Turned out everything looks really good at 70mg every 4 days subcutaneous. No need for an AI and no HCT issues. Only thing that bothers me is my HDL has dropped to 38. My total cholesterol looked really good at...

www.excelmale.com

Testosterone, HDL and cardiovascular risk in men: the jury is still out

Testosterone, HDL and cardiovascular risk in men: the jury is still out Page, Stephanie T, and Katya B Rubinow. “Testosterone, HDL and cardiovascular risk in men: the jury is still out.” Clinical Lipidology Aug. 2012: 363+. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. 7 July 2015. Author(s)...

www.excelmale.com

How to Increase Good Cholesterol (HDL) in Men on TRT

Higher doses of testosterone can cause decreases in good cholesterol (high density lipoprotein- HDL). There are several ways that HDL can be increased. Lee Myers, the founder of PeakTestosterone.com, has written a very good summary on the subject...

www.excelmale.com

 

[Larry B]

In case that you have not read these

Why does testosterone therapy decrease HDL cholesterol in some men?

This HDL lowering effect is seen at higher testosterone doses. Relationship of plasma HDL-Cholesterol to testosterone, estradiol, and sex-hormone-binding globulin levels in men and women James Semmens et al. Metabolism Volume 32, Issue 5, May 1983, Pages 428–432 Abstract The significance...

www.excelmale.com

Testosterone (or Anastrozole?) Decreased my HDL: What Can I Do?

Everything so far has been going great since getting my dose dialed in for TRT. Turned out everything looks really good at 70mg every 4 days subcutaneous. No need for an AI and no HCT issues. Only thing that bothers me is my HDL has dropped to 38. My total cholesterol looked really good at...

www.excelmale.com

Testosterone, HDL and cardiovascular risk in men: the jury is still out

Testosterone, HDL and cardiovascular risk in men: the jury is still out Page, Stephanie T, and Katya B Rubinow. “Testosterone, HDL and cardiovascular risk in men: the jury is still out.” Clinical Lipidology Aug. 2012: 363+. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. 7 July 2015. Author(s)...

www.excelmale.com

How to Increase Good Cholesterol (HDL) in Men on TRT

Higher doses of testosterone can cause decreases in good cholesterol (high density lipoprotein- HDL). There are several ways that HDL can be increased. Lee Myers, the founder of PeakTestosterone.com, has written a very good summary on the subject...

www.excelmale.com

Very good info! I'll be busy reading this. Is .31 ml of testosterone Monday and Thursday along with .5 mg of anastozole too much? Would those amounts be lowering my HDL? I'm at the high end of normal now for estradiol at 32.2.

 

[Cataceous]

If 845 ng/dL is your trough testosterone then the peak is possibly over 1,200, which is excessive. I would cut the testosterone dose by at least a third unless SHBG is especially high. This and cutting the AI should help the HDL. Supplementing with fish oil may provide an additional boost. Here's my personal correlation of HDL and estradiol: